Fall Foods to Be Thankful for

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The 'Recipe Doctor' lightens up cool-weather favorites

I know it's fall when there are more leaves OFF the trees than on them. I
know it's fall when I need socks or slippers on my feet when I work late at
night on the computer at the far end of my 50-year-old house. I know it's fall
when it's dark out long before I've been able to rustle up dinner for my
family. We all know it's fall when pumpkin pies become standard fare at
supermarket bakeries, and when sparkling cider, sweetened condensed milk, and
cranberry sauce suddenly get their own displays at the end of the aisles.

There's something about favorite fall foods that speaks to our hearts as
well as our stomachs. It's tradition and celebration and comfort food all
rolled into one spectacular season. (Can you tell this is my favorite time of
year?)

Many fall foods are favorites simply because they are harvested during the
fairly dismal months of cold-weather produce (things like apples, cranberries,
and winter squash). Others are beloved because we generally only have them
around this time of year (though we could eat them year round). It's like we
have to be reminded about them by magazines, the holidays, or special store
displays. I ask you, what's wrong with eating pumpkin pie in July? Why can't we
make fudge in February?

It just feels natural to start craving comfort foods and holiday dishes
about the time the pumpkins start growing their own heads of hair while
drooping on our front porches in early November. It's as if we're programmed to
desire certain fall foods, just as the leaves are programmed to turn colors and
fall off their branches.

Fall Foods Members Are Thankful For

In honor of the season of Thanksgiving, we polled Weight Loss Clinic members
about what fall foods they're are most grateful for. They mentioned the usual
suspects: roast turkey and the rest of Thanksgiving dinner, apple cider,
pecans, Christmas cookies, fudge, and casseroles.

But some notable fall fruits and vegetables got the nod, too, like apples,
cranberries, sweet potatoes, and winter squash. And what do you know -- these
are all super nutritious, fiber-packed foods! Of course, we do tend to
embellish these naturally healthy items with questionable ingredients such as
marshmallows, butter, brown sugar, etc. (but that's half the fun).